Michael Richard Baldwin was born on July 19, 1947, to Mr. and Mrs. Alvin G. Baldwin. His home of record is Flemington, NJ. Michael had one brother, Alvin, and four sisters, Patricia, Victoria, Betsy and Mary. He graduated from Hunterdon Central High School in 1966.
While in school he started working at the ShopRite in Raritan Township. He had a junker of a card and often hitchhiked to work. In high school he was active in football, wrestling and baseball. He was a fun-loving kid.
Baldwin served in the US Army and attained the rank of Sergeant (SGT).
On September 12, 1968 at the age of 21, Baldwin was killed in action in South Vietnam, Binh Long Province exactly ten years to the day his only brother, Alvin, had been killed in an automobile accident. He was serving as a squad leader with the 28th Infantry when he was mortally wounded. Michael was one of three high school buddies to die in combat in Vietnam. Van Dyke Manners, Fred Zyck and Michael Baldwin had been good friends, on and off, the football field.
According to his family, Michael was proud of his uniform; thought it made him look handsome and it did.
He was posthumously awarded the Silver Star for “gallantry in action” while serving in Vietnam. Prior to his death, Sgt. Baldwin had been awarded the National Defense Service Ribbon, the Vietnamese Service Medal, the Vietnamese Campaign Ribbon, the Combat Infantryman Badge and the Sharpshooter Badge.
Sources: Pat Baldwin Wright (sister), newspaper clippings and NJVVMF.
12/17/2024
